Geochelone

Geochelone
Geochelone radiata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Geochelone Fitzinger, 1835
Species
G. carbonaria G. denticulata G. elegans G. gigantea G. nigra G. pardalis G. platynota G. radiata G. sulcata G. yniphora G. atlas

Geochelone is a genus of tortoises.

Geochelone Tortoises, which are also known as typical tortoises or terrestrial turtles, can be found in Africa, America, Asia, and several Oceanic islands. They primarily eat plants, specifically dark greens. Measured by the length of their shell, the species in this genus are some of the largest turtles in the world, especially the Galápagos tortoise (G. nigra), which can get as long as 6 feet (1.80 meters). The genus consists of the following 12 species:

• Red-footed tortoise (G. carbonaria)
• Chaco tortoise (G. chilensis)
• South American yellow-footed tortoise (G. denticulata)
• Indian Star Tortoise (G. elegans)
• Aldabra Giant Tortoise (G. gigantea)
• Galápagos tortoise (G. nigra)
• Leopard Tortoise (G. pardalis)
• Burmese Star Tortoise (G. platynota)
• Radiated Tortoise (G. radiata)
• African Spurred Tortoise (G. sulcata)
• Angonoka or Angulated Tortoise (G. yniphora)

A recent comparative genetic analysis has indicated that this taxon is "polyphyletic, representing at least four independent clades".^[1] South American members of Geochelone are actually most closely related to African hingeback tortoises.^[1]

"Self-righting" shell

The form of the shell of the Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) resembles a gömböc, allowing it to turn over when lying upside down very easily.

References

This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia.

• Geochelone Report in Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved January 12, 2008.

External links

• ARKive - images and movies of the Chaco tortoise (Geochelone chilensis)
• [1]